55 Questions & Answers with Rationales
,HESI OB/Maternity V1 — Practice Exam
Questions 1–55
1. A nurse is assessing a client at 32 weeks' gestation. Which finding requires
immediate follow-up?
A. Urinary frequency
B. Mild ankle edema at the end of the day
C. Blood pressure of 168/108 mm Hg
D. Increased vaginal discharge
Answer: C. Blood pressure of 168/108 mm Hg
Rationale: Severe hypertension during pregnancy can indicate severe
preeclampsia and places the client at risk for seizures, stroke, placental abruption,
and other complications.
2. A client at 28 weeks' gestation asks why she is receiving a glucose screening
test. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
A. "It determines whether your baby has diabetes."
B. "It screens for gestational diabetes mellitus."
C. "It measures your baby's insulin production."
D. "It determines whether you have type 1 diabetes."
Answer: B. "It screens for gestational diabetes mellitus."
Rationale: Routine screening for gestational diabetes is generally performed at
24–28 weeks' gestation.
, 3. A pregnant client reports severe headache, blurred vision, and epigastric
pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperemesis gravidarum
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Severe preeclampsia
D. Normal discomfort of pregnancy
Answer: C. Severe preeclampsia
Rationale: Severe headache, visual disturbances, and epigastric or right-upper-
quadrant pain are warning signs of severe preeclampsia.
4. A client in labor has a fetal heart rate of 90 beats/min for 3 minutes. What is
the nurse's priority action?
A. Encourage the client to push
B. Place the client in a lateral position
C. Prepare the client for discharge
D. Increase oxytocin administration
Answer: B. Place the client in a lateral position
Rationale: Maternal repositioning, usually to the left or right lateral position, can
improve uteroplacental blood flow and may help correct fetal bradycardia.
5. A postpartum client has a boggy uterus and heavy vaginal bleeding. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Massage the fundus